Hamilton: In the Room Where It Happened

Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton

Back on February 17, 2015 the musical Hamilton: An American Musical, better known just as Hamilton, opened at the Public Theater, Off-Broadway. The musical was sold out for its engagement there, winning multiple Drama Desk Awards; and then Hamilton made its move to the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway on August 6, 2015.

As we all know, Hamilton went on to become a massive hit; it won Best Musical at that year’s Tony Awards; in fact, it was nominated for 16 Tony Awards in 2015, garnering 11 of those 16 awards. It even won a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson

But what many (ok, maybe only some) may not know is that Lin-Manuel Miranda – the multi-hypenate talent behind the music, lyrics and book of Hamilton – performed a workshop production of the show, then called The Hamilton Mixtape, on July 27, 2013 at the Vassar Reading Festival.

The genesis of the musical was due to Miranda reading a copy of the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton written by Pulitzer prize-winning author Ron Chernow while he was on vacation from performing his hit Broadway show In the Heights.

Hamilton told the story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton told through music derived heavily from hip hop, R&B, pop, soul and traditional-style show tunes. It also featured a cast of non-white actors as the historical figures of that time. From the original workshop cast, only three principal members appeared in the Off-Broadway production: Miranda, Daveed Diggs and Christopher Jackson. It should be noted that most of the original cast from Off-Broadway moved to Broadway except for Brian d’Arcy James, who was replaced by Jonathan Groff.

Christopher Jackson as George Washington

A stage performance from 2016, featuring the original principal cast, was filmed (over the course of several days in June of that year) and was offered for bidding to major movie studios. About a month before the pandemic took its fatal grip on the United States, Walt Disney Studios revealed it purchased the rights to the movie, making it available for viewing on their streaming service Disney+ on July 3, 2020 right in time for the July 4th weekend.

Enter those of us, myself included, who were never able to see it Off-Broadway, on Broadway or through any of the touring productions across the globe. We FINALLY had the chance to see what all the talk was about, getting to experience the production the way it was meant to be – up close and personal – as if we were in the front row of the Broadway production.

For me, I knew a little about Hamilton – I’d obviously seen all the headlines, skimmed articles about the production, saw the fan response, social media reactions, all the talk about the awards Hamilton won and heard bits and pieces of songs from the musical. It was hard NOT to know at least a little about the production. But I had never EXPERIENCED it, and was really looking forward to finally being a part of it all. I looked forward to being “in the room where it happened,” (using a line from one of the songs in the production).

Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler

From the outset, it was clear Hamilton was going to be mesmerizing from the costumes, to the lighting, to the music, to the dancing, to the performances, to the nuance of each cast member’s performance, to the feel of it all! I have to admit I was enraptured by it as I have never seen a play on Broadway (in person or on the small screen); more to the point, I’ve only seen two plays in my life: Phantom of the Opera at (I believe) the Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles and Wicked at Pantages Theatre in the heart of Hollywood. Needless to say, it was a thrill to watch Hamilton in all its glory (albeit on the screen of my laptop).

Each act, each song was magical. The actors disappeared into their roles (it should be noted that some of the cast played dual roles). You didn’t see the color of their skin, you saw their stories (even if the historical accuracy was a bit adjusted here and there for dramatic purposes). I loved the way the rotating wheel at the center of the stage helped progress the story – and especially enjoyed the reversal of Angelica’s story when she sang about her feelings toward Alexander and her sister Eliza.

Jonathan Groff as King George III

I don’t want to spoil much about the production for those who still have to experience it, but once you do pay close attention to the song Satisfied – as sung by Renee Elise Goldsberry (from the scene I describe above) – as it features amazing tongue-twister lyrics and Burn – as sung by Phillipa Soo – which fully displays the humiliation and heartbreak Eliza Hamilton felt at being betrayed by her husband (sorry for that spoiler!). I also cannot say enough about Jonathan Groff’s performance as King George III especially in the song You’ll Be Back. He is so serious and hysterical at the same time that you’ll be in stitches laughing over his portrayal.

Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton

All that being said, though, when you look at the landscape of the world in 2015 and compare it to the landscape of the world now in 2020 – especially given the massive call for national reform in light of all the protests and the Black Lives Matter movement (and so many other politically-motivated issues facing our nation as a whole) – there are mixed messages in Hamilton. If you wish, you can see what I mean by reading this op-ed piece from CNN.

That in no way, however, should take away from the massive appeal that Hamilton holds for its worldwide fans, the talent behind Lin-Manuel Miranda (who is simply amazing!) and the impressive cast in the original production (or any of the talented cast members who have proceeded them), or the music, the lighting, the dancing, the costumes and overall feel of this incredible production.

Run, don’t walk, to Disney+ to see Hamilton (the movie) and check it out (and judge it) for yourself!